Developer Faces Counts Of Scheming To Defraud

February 20, 1985|By Paul Stern, Staff Writer

Coral Springs developer James W. Greblick appeared in court Tuesday expecting to answer misdemeanor charges. He found himself in a Broward County courthouse hall being arrested on felony counts instead.

``Doreen, look!`` she said, grabbing her friend, Doreen Stuart, by the arm. ``They`re frisking him and everything! It`s the moment you`ve been waiting to see!``

``Justice maybe. Maybe a little justice,`` said Stuart as Greblick, 41, was led down a nearby stairwell, his hands cuffed behind his back.

Stuart, a former North Bay Village vice mayor, had gone to court to testify against the developer, accused earlier this year of misleading her and her husband, Robert, about the existence of $40,314 in unpaid mechanics` liens when he sold her a custom-built home on Northwest 105th Drive.

But instead of standing trial on the misdemeanor, Greblick, of West Palm Beach, was arrested on four felony counts of grand theft and one charge of operating an organized scheme to defraud.

``Numerous additional complaints`` against Greblick have arisen since his last court appearance Feb. 5, said Kent Neal, head of the Broward state attorney`s economic crime unit.

In court on Tuesday, Neal dropped the earlier misdemeanor charges and let the developer surrender to authorities waiting outside in the hall. Greblick was released later on $9,400 bail.

The new charges claim that Greblick, president of a defunct company named Lindlar Construction Inc., used false no-lien affidavits to induce four couples to buy homes from September 1983 to March 1984.